Everything You Need to Know About a Heart Attack

Heart attacks be responsible for roughly a quarter of the people who die every year. They’re the world’s biggest killer and everyone will have known someone who has died from one. Nearly half of the 1 million plus people who had heart failure last year died from it. So what are the risk factors you need to know to make sure either you prevent one or respond properly to one?

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is the result of the coronary arteries to your heart becoming clogged with cholesterol and thus hindering the flow of blood through them. This results in the heart, internal organs and brain shutting down to a lack of oxygen. This can cause irreparable damage within 4 minutes and is generally fatal after 20 to 40 minutes.

How to Spot a Heart Attack

Pain (often described as shooting pain) in the chest, upper limbs, neck, jaw, and back.

Uncontrolled Sweating.

Nausea and/or vomiting.

A feeling of dread or anxiety.

Faintness or lightheadedness.

General malaise.

Shortness of breath.

Not all these symptoms are present when a heart attack occurs. A quarter of heart attacks have no severe symptoms and lot of women do not report the feeling of chest discomfort, leading to a higher rate of misdiagnosis. Symptoms such as the chest pain can fade within minutes but should be noted.

What to Do:

If any of the above symptoms are present, especially in combination, call the emergency services and ask for an ambulance.

The responder will talk you through the symptoms and make the appropriate response.

If you’re in any doubt, make the call.

At Risk Groups

The risk of heart attack is known to increase when any of the following conditions or factors are present in an individual:

Smoking

Obesity

Poor diet with few vegetables or fruit

Stress

Diabetes

Over 65

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Inactive lifestyle

Some medications

Mental health conditions

African American or Caribbean heritage is also an indicator of having a higher risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Preventing Heart Attacks

If you have or are in any of the above groups or conditions, you can lower your risk of heart attack substantially in a number of ways

Diet

A low sugar, low saturated fats, and high fiber diet can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Stopping Smoking

Reducing or stopping smoking will lower the risk of heart disease-related death more than nearly any other factor.

Exercise

Regular exercise – 3 or more sessions of moderate aerobic activity a week – brings the risk of death down enormously.

Stress

By dealing with what causes you stress, your risk of heart disease will be lowered.

Medication

In consultation with your doctor, you can be prescribed drugs like statins that can keep your heart healthier.

Lose Weight

One of the biggest factors in mortality from heart disease is excess weight. Shedding a few pounds will make a huge difference to your risk of dying. You’ll feel better too.